Lava Exploding Into Sea Is A Sight To Remember!
Are you planning a full afternoon touring Kona coffee farms and driving the wonderful mountain roads of Kona Coffee Country, and you are wondering what to do in the morning. One of the most exciting options is to take an Air Tour over the Big Island.
A Big Island Air Tour provides not only close-up volcano views, but also great panoramas of remote interior areas and roaring waterfalls. Mornings tend to be the best time for air tour if you want to avoid potentially bumpy conditions.
Many people taking a Big Island air tour prefer flying from Hilo as this is a good way to maximize volcano viewing time, especially on the shorter flights.
While the Big Island’s southeast side is the main active volcano area at Kilauea Volcano, the northeast side of the island is lush and green, including tall waterfalls rushing down the mountainsides. Some flights also fly over the Hilo Bayfront area providing a nice view of Hilo Town.
If you are prone to motion sickness you may want to prepare for the flight by taking an oral medication such as Dramamine. Alternatives include a motion sickness wristband, and you may also want to choose a company that offers air conditioned cabins, which can help reduce motion sickness feelings.
Here are some options for Helicopter Tours Over the Big Island
Safari Helicopters flies a state-of-the-art ASTAR 350 B2-7 featuring large viewing windows, air-conditioned, soundproof cabins, noise cancelling headsets, and two-way communication with the pilot.
Four cameras on board record the trip from different angles. In addition to active volcano areas you will fly over lush rainforests and also see where whole communities were inundated with lava at Royal Gardens and Kalapana.
Mauna Loa Helicopters (808-334-0234) offers lessons in a small two-seater Robinson R22 (a training helicopter). After thirty minutes of on-the-ground training you take to the skies, allowing them to take off and land the craft while you get a chance to take the controls in between.
[check big island power hang glider p. 230]
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters (808-961-5600) offers a two hour tour out of Hilo on their Eco-Star helicopters which fly over the volcano area as well as the scenic Hamakua Coast. You can also just take a 50-minute trip out of Hilo, or fly out of Waikoloa near the Kohala resorts.
Tropical Helicopters (808-961-6810) flies Bell Jet Rangers out of Hilo on a 45-minute or one hour trip.
Sunsine Helicopters offers a 50-minute trip to the volcano from Hilo or Kohala.
Airplane Tours
You can also take an airplane tour which moves a lot faster over the terrain though it does cover a larger area faster.
Island Hoppers (808-969-2000) flies out of Kona and Hilo on 4-person planes, including a tour that goes all the way around the island including the Hamakua Coast.
Big Island Air (808-329-4868) flies from Kona on 9-passenger planes on an around-the-island tour. Big Island Air also offers a shorter tour that focuses on the active volcano area.
If you have your pilots license you might consider renting a Cessna 172 plane from Koa Air (808-326-2288). For an extra $30/hour the company’s owner will ride with you on the flight.
Volcano Views
Since 1983 Kilauea Volcano has been erupting almost continuously, often sending lava flows into the ocean where they explode, sending up huge plumes of steam and volcanic gas and smoke, and creating the material for the nearby black sand beaches.
Kilauea Volcano
As you fly over the upper Kilauea Volcano area you may see lava lakes as well as “skylights” where the tops of undrground lava tubes have broken away, revealing the river of lava beneath. You will also see older craters strewn about the massive volcano.
Kilauea Caldera
At Kilauea’s summit is a huge crater more than 2.5 miles across known as Kilauea Caldera. Within the caldera is Halemaumau Crater, some 3,000 feet across and hundreds of feet deep. This is said to be the place where the volcano goddess Pele protects here sacred fires.
To read about more Kona Coffee Farms see Kona Coffee Farms, Tours, and Coffeehouses.